He marched with Dr. King, disobeyed a U.S. President, and broke the color barrier in Georgia politics.
Andrew Jackson Young (1932- ) was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Young is, perhaps, most well known for his association with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Young was a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) during the 1960s Civil Rights era. The SCLC was formed in 1957 with Martin Luther King serving as its first president.
Young became a pastor in Central Alabama during the mid-50s and encouraged black Alabamians to register to vote. As per usual, his efforts for black enfranchisement were met with death threats.
In 1960, Young joined SCLC and took a more active role in the Civil Rights Movement. As a main companion of MLK, Andrew Young served as a key negotiator during many Civil Rights campaigns.
Young served as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1973-1977. He was elected to a full term in 1976, but President Carter appointed him U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. In 1987, John Lewis assumed Young’s former congressional seat. John Lewis was chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and an ally to MLK and Andrew Young.
Young went on to serve as mayor of Atlanta from 1981-1990. After leaving political office, he has served in different capacities focusing on healthcare, education, and human rights in the United States, Africa, and the Caribbean.
Andrew Young is 82 years old. Also, he is played by Andre Holland in the movie Selma.
TL;DR
- He was a leader during the American Civil Rights Movement
- He was instrumental in passage of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act
- When Young was born, only one black person had ever represented Georgia in the United States Congress. Young became the second. 102 years passed between the first and the second.
What You Should Do Now:
- Go watch the film Selma.
- Read up on Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) (He’s the bald guy in the photo).
28 Days of Inspirational Black People:
Photo: Flickr/ LBJ Foundation